Double Impatiens plant named ‘Dandochesopink’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Double  Impatiens  plant named ‘Dandochesopink’ characterized by having compact, upright and rounded growth habit; soft pink colored double flowers; small leaves; green leaves; and good branching.

Latin name of the genus and species of the claimed plant: Impatiens walleriana.

Variety denomination: ‘Dandochesopink’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Double Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens walleriana, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Dandochesopink’. Impatiens walleriana, of the Balsaminaceae family, consists of hardy and tender annual and perennials which are grown in various parts of Asia, North America and South Africa. The new Double Impatiens cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new Double Impatiens variety with tiny, double pink flowers; little green leaves and very compact growth habit.

The new Double Impatiens cultivar originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program by the inventor in 2000 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female parent is designated as ‘30V’ (unpatented). The male parent is designated as ‘86V’ (unpatented). The new Double Impatiens cultivar ‘Dandochesopink’ was discovered and selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by Stem Tip cutting, was first performed in April, 2001 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Dandochesopink’ which in combination distinguish this Impatiens as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and rounded growth habit;     -   2. Soft pink colored double flowers;     -   3. Small leaves;     -   4. Green leaves; and     -   5. Good branching.

Table 1 provides a comparison among plants of ‘Dandochesopink’ and plants of the parents, ‘30V’ and ‘86V’.

TABLE 1 Male Parent ‘DANDO- Female Parent ‘86V’ Trait CHESOPINK’ ‘30V’ (unpatented) (unpatented) Flower Red group, RHS Pink: red purple Pink: red purple color 55C group, RHS 67C group, RHS 68A Number of Approximately 70- Approximately 60- Approximately Flowers 80 flowers in 70 flowers in full 60-70 flowers full bloom bloom in full bloom Leaf Color Green Green Green Size of Length: 2 cm Length: 4 cm Length: 4 cm, Leaves Width: 2 cm Width: 3 cm Width: 3 cm Growth Very compact Medium growth Medium growth and growth habit; height habit; height 25 cm; habit; height 25 Branching 13 cm; strong strong branching cm; strong Habit branching branching Flowering Full blooming 60 Full blooming 60 Full blooming 60 time days after planting days after planting days after planting

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to ‘Dandochesopink’ is the Double Impatiens cultivar ‘Dandochesal’, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/036,338. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, plants of ‘Dandochesopink’ differed from plants of ‘Dandochesal’ primarily in flower color and leaf size, as provided in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Trait ‘DANDOCHESOPINK’ ‘DANDOCHESAL’ Flower color Red group, RHS 55C Red group, RHS 38A Length of leaves 3 cm 2 cm

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the overall appearance of the new Double Impatiens cultivar ‘Dandochesopink’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the color of ‘Dandochesopink’.

The first photograph shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering potted plant of ‘Dandochesopink’.

The second photograph shows a close-up view of a single flower of ‘Dandochesopink’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Double Impatiens cultivar ‘Dandochesopink’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Double Impatiens cultivar as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. The new Double Impatiens cultivar grew under the typical weather conditions in summer in Israel. Daytime temperatures in the summer in Israel are about 30° C. and nighttime temperatures are about 25° C. Fertilization conditions used are N:P:K=5:3:8, N=100 ppm.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart (R.H.S.), 2001 ed., except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately 12:00 p.m. In Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age of the plant described is 13 weeks from planting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Impatiens walleriana.         -   Commercial.—Double Cheeky Soft Pink. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘30V’ of our breeding program (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—‘86V’ of our breeding program (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Stem Tip cutting.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 10 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner.—Approximately 17             days.         -   Time to develop roots.—Approximately 17 days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Adventitious roots from cutting base. -   Plant description:     -   -   Growth and branching habit.—Compact, upright and rounded             growth habit. Strong branching.         -   Crop time.—8 weeks after planting as a 10-12 cm. pot.         -   General appearance and form.—Height: 13 cm. Plant spread:             Compact, 25 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity: Approximately 30 per plant.             Length: 7 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm. Internodes length: 1.0 cm.             Texture: Smooth. Branch Color: Yellow-green, RHS 145C. -   Foliage:     -   -   Type.—Simple.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Length.—2 cm.         -   Width.—2 cm.         -   Margin.—Shallowly Serrate.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color of upper surface.—Mature leaf: Yellow-green, RHS 146B.             Immature leaf: Yellow-green, RHS 146B.         -   Color of lower surface.—Mature leaf: Green, RHS 138B.             Immature leaf: Green, RHS 138C.         -   Venation.—Venation pattern: Along midrib with secondary             veins.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: No venation. Lower surface:             Green, RHS 138B.         -   Petiole.—Length: 0.7 cm. Diameter: 1.0 mm. Texture: Smooth.             Color: Green, RHS 138D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Solitary flowers raised 1 cm above the             foliage.         -   Flowering response.—Flowers at any day length.         -   Flowering season.—All year round in a greenhouse             environment. Flowering is continuous from spring until fall             in an outdoor garden.         -   Lastingness of the individual bloom.—10 days.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Approximately 5 flowers per stem.         -   Winter hardiness.—Will resist to 10° C.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Stem.—Average length: 11 cm. Average diameter: 0.5 cm.             Internode length: 1.0 cm. Texture: Smooth. Color:             Yellow-green, RHS 145C.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: From the stage that we start to see             color until anthesis is 2 days. Shape: Rounded. Length:             0.6 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm. Color: Red group, RHS 65A.         -   Inflorescence.—Flower type and habit: Double flower, day             neutral. Overall shape: Rosette. Flower size: Diameter:             2-2.5 cm. Depth: 0.5 cm. Aspect: 45°. Borne: Above foliage,             arising from leaf, upward. Petals: Arrangement: Imbricate.             Petal Number: 25. Overall Petal Shape: Obcordate. Texture:             Smooth. Margin: Entire. Appearance: Uniform color. Petal             size for outermost petals: Length: 1.0 cm. Width: 1.0 cm.             Petal size for innermost petals: Length: 0.4 cm. Width:             0.2 cm. Petal Color (when first opening): Upper surface: Red             group, RHS 55C. Lower surface: Red Group, RHS 55D. Petal             Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Red group, RHS             65C. Lower surface: Red group, RHS 65D. Petal color fading             to: Red group, RHS 56C. Calyx: Quantity of sepals: 3 sepals             with lower sepal modified into a spur. Sepal texture:             Smooth. Sepal shape: Apex shape of sepals: Acuminate.             Overall shape of lateral sepals: Oblanceolate. Overall shape             of lower sepal (sepal modifies into spur): Elliptic. Sepal             size: Lateral sepal length: 3 mm. Lateral sepal width: 1 mm.             Lower sepal length: 0.5 mm. Lower sepal width: 0.7 mm. Sepal             Color: Lateral sepal color: Yellow-green group, RHS 149D.             There is no difference in color between apex and base. Lower             sepal color: Apex: White group, RHS 155C. Base: Red group,             RHS 54C. Spur: Quantity per flower: 1. Length: 2 cm.             Diameter at base: 1.0 mm. Diameter at tip: 0.5 mm. Color:             Base: red-purple group, RHS 65D. Tip: red-purple group, RHS             59B. Peduncles: Length: 1.0 cm. Diameter: 1.0 mm. Texture:             Smooth. Strength: Strong but flexible. Angle to stem: Acute. -   Reproductive organs: Sterile, no reproductive organs. -   Disease resistance: No sensitivity was observed under regular     growing conditions. 

1. A new and distinct Double Impatiens plant named ‘Dandochesopink’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 